UGA Marine Education Center & Aquarium
About
Georgia's First Saltwater Aquarium
The UGA Marine Education Center & Aquarium on Skidaway Island is operated by University of Georgia Marine Extension. It opened 1974 as Georgia's first saltwater aquarium with 16 tanks displaying Georgia coast marine life - sharks, loggerhead sea turtles, octopus, jellyfish, and native fish.
What Kids Can Do
The touch tank lets kids hold sea snails, hermit crabs, and starfish. The Jay Wolf Nature Trail loops 0.4 miles outside through maritime forest to a marshfront overlook with a fiddler crab observation deck. Daily feedings and weekend educator-led programs introduce coastal ecology. Summer marine science camps for K-12 students bookable seasonally [marked: closed Sundays - Mon-Fri 9-4 and Sat 10-5 only].
What's Included
General admission covers all 16 tanks, touch tank, Jay Wolf nature trail, and the marshfront overlook. Summer camps and field trips priced separately.
Experience
Plan 1-2 hours. Mostly indoor aquarium with short outdoor trail option. About 25 minutes south of downtown Savannah on Skidaway Island. Free on-site parking. Stroller-friendly throughout.